It took time for meaningful evidence to be presented. But the Pittsburgh Steelers are for real.

They can prove it Sunday by winning at Baltimore to take firm control of the AFC North, take a leap toward 10-0 and make surviving members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins sweat. (The Steelers play Dallas, Cincinnati and Jacksonville next: Those teams are 4-16-1 total. Smells like 10-0 … if the Steelers top Baltimore.)

The reason for picking the Steelers to beat the Ravens is simple: Bet on Ben.

Ben Roethlisberger has been more precise than stellar this season after returning from major elbow surgery, and his second half at Tennessee this past Sunday was an ill-advised retreat to being the haphazard gunslinger he was in 2018.

But Roethlisberger’s precision — exemplified by getting the ball out faster than any quarterback in the NFL — props up a creaky offensive line and a green receiving corps that lacks a true playmaker.

It will also beat Baltimore.

Roethlisberger surely has a chip on his shoulder for his first start against Baltimore QB phenom and reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.

The two are polar opposites in terms of style. Roethlisberger is 38, Jackson 23. Jackson is all the rage. Roethlisberger has never gotten proper credit.

Said Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale: “It surprises me that (Roethlisberger) is left out of the conversation when people are talking about the ageless wonders like Drew Brees and Tom Brady, because of the success that he’s had.”

That’s true, but the best revenge for that is two rings and being hungry for a third — a goal that seems within reasonable reach.

Roethlisberger won’t play defense against Jackson. (Wouldn’t it be great if a quarterback matchup played out that way just once?)

Despite the absence of injured inside linebacker Devin Bush, whose speed helped contain Jackson when the teams met Oct. 6 last year, the Steelers should pursue the same gameplan as then, even if plodding Robert Spillane deputizes for Bush (as opposed to using an extra defensive back and putting Terrell Edmunds in the box, as campaigned for in this space).

In that game, the Steelers mixed coverage schemes and looks, confusing Jackson pre-snap. Over four possessions (22 plays) that spanned late in the second quarter and into the third, the Steelers got three interceptions and three sacks, seizing a 20-17 lead that was ultimately squandered in a 26-23 loss.

That will be tough to replicate without Bush, who — besides being able to run with Jackson — could cover the Ravens tight ends (including Pro Bowler Mark Andrews).

But the Steelers must do the same: Keep Jackson guessing till he starts guessing right. If he does, go to Plan B. If he doesn’t, the Ravens figure to have a Plan B this time. (Maybe not: Tennessee executed the Steelers’ defensive plan in their playoff upset of Baltimore.)

Getting a lead and making Jackson catch up is of obvious value, but nonetheless worth mentioning. He’s not a great pure passer. Jackson struggles when turned one-dimensional. He is not proven when it comes to engineering comebacks.

Jackson isn’t proven as a big-game quarterback, either: He is 0-2 in playoff games and 0-3 against Kansas City. Sunday certainly qualifies as a big game.

Baltimore’s gameplan against Roethlisberger figures to be simple: Hit him.

The Ravens historically have done that, nailing Roethlisberger with what the quarterback once called the two hardest hits of his career: By Bart Scott in 2006 and Courtney Upshaw in ’14. The Ravens broke Roethlisberger’s nose once, too. If any team makes Roethlisberger flinch, it’s Baltimore.

Those doing past damage are gone, but other big boppers have stepped in: They don’t come much bigger than 6-foot-8 Calais Campbell. Pass-rushing specialist Yannick Ngakoue has been added. The Ravens have 22 sacks, not far behind the Steelers’ league-leading 26. Baltimore might have the NFL’s best cornerback duo in Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters.

Watch for the Ravens punching the ball out. They do so systematically, and that educated risk has helped them recover eight fumbles this season. Humphrey walloped the ball from JuJu Smith-Schuster’s grasp in that 26-23 game’s deciding moment.

Baltimore has the NFL’s best scoring defense (17.3 points per game). The Steelers have the NFL’s best defense in terms of yards allowed (286.3 per game).

Something’s got to give. What does is up to the quarterbacks.

Bet on Ben.

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